Blowout valve assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a blowout valve assembly (blowout preventer (BOP)) comprising a connecting channel, which can be closed by at least one closing device, whereby the closing device can be transversally displaced with regard to the connecting channel by means of a drive device. The aim of the invention is to further improve a blowout valve assembly of this type in order to enable this assembly to be precisely and easily actuated by remote control and while, at the same time, reliably preventing an unintentional opening of the closing device. To this end, the drive device comprises at least two electric motors, which can be operated individually or in a synchronized manner, and comprises a transmission device having at least one irreversible transmission unit. In order to displace the closing device, said transmission unit is drive-connected to both electric motors.

1. A blowout valve assembly with a connecting channel, which can be closed by at least one closing device transversally displaced with regard to the connecting channel by means of a drive device, the drive device comprising:
 at least two electric motors, which can be operated individually or in a synchronized manner; 
 a transmission device having at least one irreversible transmission unit being drive-connected to said electric motors and adapted to transversally displace the closing device; and 
 a separate control device electrically connected to each of said electric motors. 
 
   
   
     2. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said electric motors are servomotors or direct current servomotors. 
   
   
     3. A blowout valve assembly with a connecting channel, which can be closed by at least one closing device transversally displaced with regard to the connecting channel by means of a drive device, the drive device comprising:
 at least two electric motors, which can be operated individually or in a synchronized manner; 
 a transmission device having at least one irreversible transmission unit being drive-connected to said electric motors and adapted to transversally displace the closing device, wherein said transmission device is a worm drive comprising:
 a worm wheel connected to the closing device; and 
 a worm connected to said electric motors, wherein the worm is disposed on a worm shaft that is drive-connected to at least one of said electric motors. 
 
 
   
   
     4. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein one of said electric motors is drive-connected to each end of the worm shaft. 
   
   
     5. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein each end of the worm shaft is rotationally rigidly connected to a motor shaft of one of said electric motors. 
   
   
     6. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the transmission device further comprises a screw drive including a screw drive nut and a rotating spindle, wherein the worm wheel is rotationally rigidly connected to either the screw drive nut or the rotating spindle. 
   
   
     7. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the screw drive is a ball screw drive. 
   
   
     8. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the screw drive is a roll screw drive. 
   
   
     9. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the roll screw drive is a planetary roll screw drive. 
   
   
     10. The blowout valve assembly according to one  claim 6 , wherein the rotating spindle is connected to a closing element of the closing device. 
   
   
     11. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the rotating spindle is formed as part of the closing device and includes the closing element at its end facing the connecting channel. 
   
   
     12. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the screw drive nut is adapted to be rotated in a device housing, but is supported so that it cannot be axially displaced. 
   
   
     13. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the screw drive nut is arranged rotationally rigidly in a bearing sleeve, which can be rotated in a device housing, but is supported so that it cannot be axially displaced. 
   
   
     14. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the worm wheel is rotationally rigidly connected to the screw drive nut and/or bearing sleeve. 
   
   
     15. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the bearing sleeve is supported by at least one axial bearing in the device housing such that it cannot be rotated. 
   
   
     16. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said electric motors are arranged on both sides of the device housing, especially on motor housings which can be flange-connected to the said device housing. 
   
   
     17. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the worm shaft is rotationally supported in a transverse hole, running approximately tangentially to the longitudinal hole of the device housing, the said longitudinal hole accommodating the rotating spindle and screw drive nut. 
   
   
     18. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising two closing elements, displaceable towards one another, supported in the device housing; and wherein at least one screw drive, one worm gear and two electric motors are assigned to each closing element. 
   
   
     19. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein each closing element is connected to an advance shaft, especially in a releasable manner, which is connected at its end section, facing away from the closing element, to a transverse beam which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the advance shaft, the said transverse beam being connected, on both sides of the advance shaft, to a left and a right screw drive. 
   
   
     20. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein a worm gear and two electric motors are assigned to each of the left and right screw drives. 
   
   
     21. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the worm wheel is arranged approximately centrally between two rotating spindles and is rotationally rigidly connected to them, whereby the screw pitches of the rotating spindles are in opposite directions and a screw drive nut is arranged on each rotating spindle, the said screw drive nut being movement-connected to the transverse beam. 
   
   
     22. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the screw drive nut is guided along the rotating spindle in a transmission housing rotationally rigidly in the longitudinal direction of the rotating spindle. 
   
   
     23. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein the screw drive nut is fixed in a tube-shaped retaining sleeve, which comprises at least one rotationally rigid sliding section which can be displaced along the transmission housing. 
   
   
     24. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the sliding section is formed on the end of the retaining sleeve facing towards the rotating spindle and the screw drive nut is held rotationally rigidly in it. 
   
   
     25. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein the sliding section is essentially quadrilateral corresponding to a cross-section of a guide hole of the transmission housing. 
   
   
     26. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 25 , further comprising sliding plates arranged especially on all four outer sides of the sliding section. 
   
   
     27. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein the retaining sleeve exhibits an essentially circular cross-section except for its sliding section and protrudes from one end of the transmission housing and is here especially releasably attached by its free end to the transverse beam. 
   
   
     28. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the free ends of the retaining sleeve and the transverse beam are screwed together. 
   
   
     29. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein the transverse beam is formed as a yoke. 
   
   
     30. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein the electric motors are arranged in a motor housing extending transversally and essentially tangentially to the transmission housing. 
   
   
     31. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein the worm wheel is arranged rotationally rigidly on a connecting rotational sleeve and ends of the rotating spindle with opposing screw pitch are attached to its both ends. 
   
   
     32. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein the electric motors are synchronized by software. 
   
   
     33. The blowout valve assembly according to  claim 32 , wherein at least one electric motor is wired as master and, where applicable, the remaining electric motors are wired as slaves. 
   
   
     34. A blowout valve assembly comprising:
 a closing device transversely displaceable relative to a connecting channel disposed within the blowout valve; 
 a transverse beam connected to a shaft that is coupled to said closing device; 
 a first transmission device coupled to a first end of said transverse beam, wherein said first transmission device is drive connected to a first electric motor; and 
 a second transmission device coupled to a second end of said transverse beam, wherein said second transmission device is drive connected to a second electric motor, wherein said first and second transmission devices are operable to transversely displace said closing device relative to the connecting channel. 
 
   
   
     35. The blowout valve assembly of  claim 34  wherein said first transmission device comprises:
 a worm drive that is drive connected to said first electric motor; and 
 a screw drive connected to said worm drive and to said transverse beam, wherein said worm drive and said screw drive transform rotational motion of said first electric motor into linear motion of said transverse beam. 
 
   
   
     36. The blowout valve assembly of  claim 35  wherein said worm drive comprises:
 a worm mounted on a shaft that is drive coupled to said first electric motor; and 
 a worm wheel engaged with said worm and rotationally rigidly connected to said screw drive. 
 
   
   
     37. The blowout valve assembly of  claim 36  wherein said screw drive comprises:
 a screw drive nut coupled to said transverse beam; and 
 a rotating spindle engaged with said screw drive nut and rotationally rigidly connected to said worm drive. 
 
   
   
     38. The blowout preventer of  claim 35  wherein said worm drive is further connected to a third electric motor.